31/10/2025
Strategic Partners Forum: AI-Sana Shapes the Intellectual Future of Kazakhstan
In Astana, the International Forum of Strategic Partners «Kazakhstan – The Territory of Academic Knowledge» has begun, bringing together university leaders, heads of accreditation agencies, and representatives of foreign university branches.
The event has become a key platform for sharing experiences, discussing global trends, and developing joint solutions in the fields of higher education and science.
One of the central events of the forum was the AI-Sana Ceremony, aimed at enhancing digital competencies and introducing artificial intelligence technologies into the education system.
In his opening remarks, Kuanyshbek Yesekeyev, Assistant to the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, emphasized the importance of the AI-Sana initiative in building an intellectual ecosystem for the new generation.
Last December, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev instructed the development of the AI-Sana program. Today, we are already witnessing its first results. Thanks to the joint efforts of the government, the Ministry, universities, students, and program partners, a foundation has been laid for a university-based ecosystem for the development of artificial intelligence, creating conditions for young people to realize their potential.
This year, our students have achieved remarkable progress — their projects have been presented at digital forums, exhibitions, parliamentary sessions, and even meetings with the President.
Today, we are gathered here to officially honor the best among them — the winners of the AI-Sana Leaders program. Their projects cover diverse areas, from medicine and education to industry and security. Many student solutions are already being applied in real sectors of the economy and society. These are only the first steps — new challenges and opportunities lie ahead,” said Kuanyshbek Bakytbekovich.
As part of the AI-Sana Ceremony, the authors of the best AI projects among the country’s universities were awarded.
Winners were recognized in categories such as AI-Sana Leader, Best AI Project in Education – Academic Integrity, Best Industry Solution, Best AI Project in Energy, Best AI Project in Healthcare, AI for Career Pathbuilding, Best AI Project in Culture, Best Industrial AI Project, AI for Good: Social Initiative of the Year, Best AI Project in Biomedicine, and Best Inclusive AI Technologies, among others.
Participants also attended an exhibition showcasing innovative AI solutions and student projects.
Professor Paul Kim, Chairman of the International Advisory Board at the World Bank and a professor at Stanford University, addressed the forum participants via video message.
He highlighted Kazakhstan’s significant progress in digitalization and expressed readiness for further cooperation with the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
According to him, the AI-Sana project will enable hundreds of thousands of students to acquire artificial intelligence and entrepreneurial skills over the next six years.
The Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Sayasat Nurbek, noted that the AI-Sana initiative aims not only to master modern technologies but also to foster a new culture of thinking within universities:
As part of the initiative, 549,000 students have already completed courses on artificial intelligence and AI management, and by the end of the program, the number is expected to reach 650,000.
During the preparatory phase, launched earlier this year, approximately 390,000 certificates were issued.
AI-Sana is not just an educational program — it is a movement shaping a new generation of specialists capable of creating startups, integrating AI into their professional activities, and accelerating the technological development of industries,” the minister stated.
Huawei localized AI courses, which have already been completed by 175,000 students, resulting in over 250,000 certificates.The Coursera platform provided 37,000 licenses to 95 Kazakhstani universities, allowing students to earn 59,000 certificates.Kazakhstan was named a finalist for the international Coursera Awards.Among the top projects in the «Best Inclusive AI Technologies»category was «Sign Bridge» — a sign language recognition and translation system.
The project received a 2 million tenge grant from Yandex Cloud.
According to Nazgul Dospol, a master’s student at the Department of Artificial Intelligence Technologies, Faculty of Information Technology, L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University (ENU), the project is implemented in the Kazakh language:
Our project translates information into sign language using digital avatars. Animated videos featuring our avatars are broadcast daily on the Жібек Жолы TV channel. We also translate educational materials for grades 5–11 — around 1,000 materials have been translated so far, she explained.
It should also be noted that during the ceremony, a memorandum of cooperation was signed between JSC Science Fund and Platonus LLP for the implementation of the AI-Sana Academy platform.
gov.kz